5 of the Most Unusual Landscapes in the World

The world is such a marvellous place—there are plenty of breathtaking places in almost every corner of our planet. However, if you think you have seen almost every mountain, valley, or sea in the world and are feeling slightly bored, here are some unusual landscapes that you should definitely add to your travel bucket list.

The Antelope Canyon, United States

The United States is one of the largest countries in the world, boasting of diversity not only in its citizens, beliefs, and wildlife, but also in landscapes. The Antelope Canyon in Arizona is one of the most unique landscapes in the United States—with breathtaking spiral formations of rock that change its colours during the course of a day. The Antelope Canyon has two major divisions: the Upper Antelope Canyon and the Lower Antelope Canyon, both of which are open to explorers and adventurers.

The Gates to Hell, Turkmenistan

According to the estimates of geological experts, Turkmenistan is sitting on one of the largest reserves of natural gas in the world. This natural gas reserve is also responsible for fuelling the fires burning in the Darvaza Gas Crater, a place more known by its slightly scary nickname, the Gates to Hell. This hole has been burning continuously since 1971, when several geologists digging in the area decided to light a large crater filled with toxic gas to prevent poisoning the surroundings. The geologists made a serious miscalculation on the amount of gas in the crater, and up to this day, the fire continues to burn in the Darvaza Gas Crater—making for an eerie landscape that closely resembles an entrance to the netherworld.

The Stone Forests, China

China is a very large country with a very diverse variety of landscapes, but one of the most unique of these locations is what the locals know as the Stone Forests. This landscape is covered with tall, thin, and jagged rock formations made of karsts, extending up to half a million square meters spread across three provinces, namely Guizhou, Yunnan, and Guangxi. A part of the Stone Forests are declared and protected as UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2007.

The Dallol Volcano, Ethiopia

The Dallol Volcano is located in what is considered as the hottest (in terms of temperature) place in the planet, with local temperatures reaching up to 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the warmer months, and even higher in the Danakil Depression. The latter is where the Dallol Volcano can be found, around 150 feet below sea level. This Ethiopian volcano is the lowest land volcano in the world, but that distinction is not what makes the Dallol Volcano unique—the salt ponds, geysers, and mineral springs boasting of green, yellow, white, and red hues do. Scientists discovered that the coloration of the water is brought on by potassium salts, sulphur, and different types of oxides and chlorides.

The Socotra Island, Yemen

Visiting Yemen’s Socotra Island is like visiting another world—with unique rock formations, plant species, and animal species. The flora and the fauna in this island is not found anywhere in the world, and is considered by many scientists as the Galapagos Island of the Indian Ocean.